Our story starts like many great storybook romances — on a dating app. Jordan had just created his profile and, believe it or not, Cassie was the very first girl he asked on a date. We planned a date for the following weekend at the J. Parker rooftop bar in Chicago. We were both early to the date, and that quietly impressed us both. After talking for over three hours (on a Sunday night!), Jordan walked Cassie back to her apartment, where they hugged goodnight and both left with the desire to meet up again soon.

Over the next few months, we spent our free time getting to know each other and growing closer with every date. By December, we took our first trip together back to the great state of Indiana to watch the Colts play the Patriots on Saturday night. Jordan describes it as the best game he’s ever attended, and we both had a great time meeting up with some of his friends for dinner at The Eagle and drinks at Brothers Bar after the game. Cassie described it as the “best trip of her life” — or at least that’s how Jordan remembers it.

Since those first few months together in 2021, our relationship has grown stronger than ever, and the best part of all our adventures is that we get to experience them together. We moved into our apartment in Chicago in September 2024, and it confirmed everything Jordan already knew: Cassandra Collins was the one for him.

We’d been dreaming of taking a trip to Hawaii for a couple of years and finally decided to just book it in late January 2025, with plans to leave in April. Jordan told Cassie he had every intention of getting married, but didn’t think he’d be able to get the ring before the trip. Still, he knew he’d better figure it out soon. After a couple of meetings with the jewelry store — and a mention of Hawaii — they quickly made a plan to make it happen. He got the ring just a few days before they left.

Cassie was suspicious, but Jordan was stealthy and sly. He made the calls in secret and had everything set up for their arrival later that week. We made a one night stop in Vegas to see David Blaine, then headed to Kauai, Hawaii for eight days. We were engaged by the second day on Waipouli Beach, and I don’t think either of us had ever been so happy. The whole trip went flawlessly, and we spent our first days together as fiancés on the best vacation we’ve ever taken.

As we plan for a life together, we truly couldn’t be more excited. What began as a Hinge message between strangers has turned into planning a day where we commit to spending our lives together. We are counting down the days until we’re in Cancun with the ones we love most, beginning the next chapter of our lives: The McBrides.

Registry